Moffat County, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moffat County
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Round Bottom Area in Moffat County, Colorado
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Location within the U.S. state of Colorado
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 Colorado's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Founded | February 27, 1911 |
| Named for | David H. Moffat |
| Seat | Craig |
| Largest city | Craig |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,751 sq mi (12,310 km2) |
| • Land | 4,743 sq mi (12,280 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 0.2%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,292 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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13,327 |
| • Density | 2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Moffat County is a county in the state of Colorado, USA. It's located in the northwestern part of the state. In 2020, about 13,292 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Craig.
Moffat County is very large. It covers 4,751 square miles. This makes it the second-biggest county in Colorado. Only Las Animas County is larger. The county is also part of a larger area that includes Steamboat Springs.
History of Moffat County
Early People and Changes
The first people known to live in this area were the Ute tribes. In 1776, a Spanish group led by Dominguez and Escalante explored nearby. They saw the area and its people but didn't write much detail.
In the 1820s, William H. Ashley led fur trappers into the Green River area. This was the first time Europeans used the land's resources. Later, John C. Freemont explored Moffat County in 1844. He was returning from California on his second trip.
Even with these visitors, treaties in 1868 and 1873 said that northwestern Colorado belonged to the Ute nation. The U.S. government set up "agencies" to work with the Ute people. In 1879, a new agent named Nathan Meeker came to the White River Agency. He wanted the Ute people to stop their nomadic way of life. He tried to make them farmers.
This change caused problems. It led to the killing of Meeker and his staff. After this, the U.S. government forced most Ute tribes to move to Utah. Then, northwestern Colorado was opened for mining, ranching, and new settlers.
How Moffat County Was Formed
In 1861, the Colorado Territory was created. Northwestern Colorado became part of Summit County. Later, in 1874, Grand County was made from the northern part of Summit County. In 1877, Grand County was split again, creating Routt County.
It took 34 more years for Moffat County to be created. In 1911, it was carved out of the western part of Routt County. The county was named after David H. Moffat. He was a rich businessman from Colorado who passed away in 1911.
Growth and Development
David Moffat was key in building a railroad from Denver to Salt Lake City. He started the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway. Building the "Moffat Road" track began in the early 1900s. It faced many challenges. The railroad finally reached Craig in Moffat County in 1913.
This railroad was very important for ranchers in Moffat County. However, the track never reached Utah. In 1934, a more direct route to Salt Lake City was built. Moffat County's line became a smaller branch and not part of the main railroad.
In the 1920s, U.S. 40, a major highway, began construction. This highway, called the "Victory Highway," went through Craig. Craig became almost exactly halfway between Denver and Salt Lake City. By 1938, most of the highway over the Rocky Mountains was paved. This helped Craig's economy by bringing in tourists and travelers.
Moffat County was not included in the first plans for the Interstate Highway System. I-80 went through Wyoming, and I-70 was planned to end in Denver. But Colorado Governor Edwin C. Johnson, who used to live in Moffat County, pushed for I-70 to continue through Colorado to Salt Lake City. It was approved but routed through Grand Junction, Colorado. This left Moffat County on a smaller highway, away from the main Interstate roads.
The population of Moffat County was around 5,000 people in 1920. It stayed about the same until the 1970s. Then, three coal-fired power plants were built. These plants brought many jobs and people. However, these power plants are now set to close between 2025 and 2030. This will have a big impact on the county's economy. Besides energy, Moffat County also relies on ranching, farming, and tourism. In 2020, the population was 13,292. This is similar to the population after the power plant boom in the 1980s.
Geography
Moffat County covers about 4,751 square miles. Most of this is land (4,743 square miles). Only a small part (7.6 square miles) is water. It is the second-largest county in Colorado by area.
Neighboring Counties
- Routt County – to the east
- Rio Blanco County – to the south
- Uintah County, Utah – to the west
- Daggett County, Utah – to the west
- Sweetwater County, Wyoming – to the north
- Carbon County, Wyoming – to the north
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 40
State Highway 13
State Highway 317
State Highway 318
State Highway 394
Wyoming Highway 70
Protected Natural Areas
- Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Routt National Forest
- White River National Forest
- Yampa River State Park
Scenic Drives
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway National Scenic Byway
Highest Point
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 5,129 | — | |
| 1930 | 4,861 | −5.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,086 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,946 | 16.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,061 | 18.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,525 | −7.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,133 | 101.3% | |
| 1990 | 11,357 | −13.5% | |
| 2000 | 13,184 | 16.1% | |
| 2010 | 13,795 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 13,292 | −3.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,327 | −3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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In 2000, there were 13,184 people living in Moffat County. There were 4,983 households. About 3,577 of these were families. The population density was about 3 people per square mile.
Most people in the county (about 93.6%) were White. About 9.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 38% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 58.7% were married couples. The average household had 2.58 people. The average family had 3.05 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 28.5% were under 18 years old. About 29.9% were between 25 and 44 years old. The median age was 35 years. This means half the people were younger than 35, and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 107.7 males.
The average income for a household in the county was $41,528. For families, it was $45,511. About 8.3% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 8.3% of those under 18.
Towns and Places
City
Town
Census-designated place
Other Unincorporated Places
- Blue Mountain
- Elk Springs
- Greystone
- Hamilton
- Lay
- Loyd
- Massadona
- Slater
- Sunbeam
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Moffat para niños
